Ribbon-feed mechanism for type-writers.



No. 870,307 PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

W. A-,MGCOOL'.

RIBBON FEED MECHANISM FOR TYPE WRITERS.. nmcnmn mm 0019. 1905.

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PATENTED NOV. 5, 1907.

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RIBBON FEED MECHANISM FOR TY PEIWRIT ERS.

APPLICATION FILED 0019, 1905.

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WILLIAM A. MoCOOL, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RIBBON-FEED MECHANISM FOR TYPE-WRITERS.

Original application filed June 19, 1903, Serial No. 162,225.

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM A. McCooL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ribbon-Feed Mechanism for Type-Writers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a ribbon feed mechanism for typewriters. It is illustrated as applied to a typewriter of the type-wheel class in which are embodied a number of my improvements not claimed or described in detail in this case, butforming the subject of my application for Patent No. 162,225, filed June I 5 19, 1903, of which this application is a division.

Figure 1 is a front elevation with parts broken away and parts in section of a typewriter embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan view with part of the carriage and some of the key levers broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section.

In the accompanying drawings 1 designates a frame made of any suitable material substantially rectangular in form and having formed integral therewith, or suitably attached thereto, slightly below its upper surface a longitudinal brace 1, and a transverse brace 1 Above such braces and at the rear of the frame is the transverse key seat 1.

Mounted transversely on the frame about midway of its length is a bridge 2, which is milled out or otherwise shaped to form guide-ways for the paper carriage v3 which is adapted to move longitudinally on the bridge 2 transversely of the frame 1.

The key levers 22 are preferably arranged in banks in the ordinary manner. By their manipulation the typewheel 47, the carriage feed 63, and the hammer 15 that forces the paper and the inking ribbon against the type-wheel, are all, through appropriate mechanism, operated. But as these parts and the connecting and operating mechanism between them and the key levers do not form parts of the invention claimed in this case, they will be described only so far as such description will aid in an understanding of the ribbon feed' mechanism, which is also operated from the keys. The key levers are normally held elevated by springs 80, and intermediate their fulcrum ends 73 and their striking lettered buttons, they bear upon a cross bar 58 of a rocking frame 81, fulcrumed at 32 and held in a raised position by a spring 128.

A bracket 53 is secured to the bridge 2 of the typewriter frame by screws 88. It has two arms 85 curved forwardly and outwardly and at their ends carrying bearings 90 for the vertical shafts 38, at the upper ends of which are the ribbon spools 19. These spools are arranged one on each side of the type-wheel 47 and 55 slightly forward thereof, so that the ribbon 41 in pass- Specification of Letters Patent.

Divided and this application filed October 9. 1905. Serial N 0. 282,045-

wheel 47. Whenever the operator manipulates a key,

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

ing from one spool to the other is carried between the type-wheel 47 and the cushion strip 18 that forms a shield between the hammer 15 and the types. These shafts 38 are stepped or journaled at their lower ends in the brace l. and mounted thereon are the counterpart ratchet wheels 37. At a convenient point below the bearings 90 of said shafts 38 are the collars 86 and springs 87, said springs being interposed between said collars and bearings to give steadiness to motion and form resistance against overwinding.

Mounted between the ratchet wheels 37 and in the same horizontal plane is a bifurcated pawl 36, the stem of which projects rearwardly as at 34 and is pivotally connected at 74 with an arm 33 on the rocking frame 81. A yoke 35 forms a guide for the arm 34 and is bent downward and curved outward to give clearance to the adjacent mechanism until it passes below the brace 1 where it is pivoted at 78 and extends out through the central front of the frame 1 and is provided with a knob or button 79. Extending from a point in front of the yoke 35 on the arm 34 are two oppositely placed flat springs 103, which are fast upon the arm 34 and bear against the sides of said yoke 35 to give steadiness to the reciprocation of the pawl 36 and keep it in engagement with that ratchet 37 with which it has 80 been thrown into engagement by the shifting knob or button 79.

When the ribbon on one spool has become almost unwound the knob 79 is shifted and as it is connected to the pawl 36 the latter is thereby thrown out of engagement with the opposite ratchet, whereupon the ribbon is then wound upon the other spool. Upon the bracket 53 to the rear of the arms 85 are two vertical arms 118 which have their upper ends curyed rearwardly to form supports for the two small rollers 70 around which the ribbon 41 is passed from one spool to the other in approximate contact with the typethe frame 81 is rocked and this operates through the crank arm 33 to reciprocate the pawl 36. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 2 the ends of the pawl that engage with the ratchet wheels are so shaped that one or the other, accordingly as the pawl is set by the yoke lever 35, of the ribbon spool shafts will be slowly turned with a step by step movement, thus winding the ribbon backward and forward between the spools, and across the striking line or face of the type-wheel.

What I claim is:

1. In a typewriter, the combination of key levers, a type wheel mounted on an upright shaft, shafts carrying ribbon spools mounted in stationary bearings and disposed suh stantially parallel with the shaft of the type wheel, ratchet wheels mounted on the spool carrying shafts, a bifurcated double pawl arranged to act upon the ratchet wheels, a rocking frame arranged to be actuated whenever the key levers are operated, a connection between the rocking frame and the pawl, and means for shifting the pawl to engage with either one or the other of the ratchet wheels, substantially as set forth.

2. In a typewriter, the combination of a bank of key levers, a type wheel situated above the key levers, a pair of ribbon spools also above the key levers, shafts on which the ribbon spools are mounted extending downward through the bank of key levers, ratchet wheels on the spool shafts also below the key levers, and mechanism operated by the key levers for engaging with the ratchet wheels to turn the spool shafts, substantially as set forth.

3. In a typewriter, the combination of the key levers, the rocking bar mounted beneath said levers for engage: ment therewith, the two ribbon spools, the upright shafts carrying said spools and extending below the key levers, ratchets on said shafts also below the levers, the pawl actuated by the rocking bar and adapted to engage with either ratchet at will, and the lever extending to the front of the frame below the bank of keys and connected to the pawl, whereby it may be shifted from one to the other ratchet as may be desired.

4:. In a typewriter, the combination of a frame, keys on the frame, a paper carriage above the keys, a type-Wheel close to the carriage, two ribbon spools on vertical shafts parallel with the type wheel, ratchets on said shafts situated below the keys, a bifurcated pawl between and in alinement with the ratchets, a rocking frame below the keys, a yoke embracing the stem of the pawl and extending to the front of the machine and pivotally attached to the frame, whereby the pawl may be shifted from one ratchet to the other.

5. In a typewriter, the combination of the type-Wheel on a vertical axis, two vertical shafts, one at each side, and both in front of the axis of the type-wheel, ratchets near the lower ends of said shafts, ribbon spools upon their upper ends, resistance springs for the spools, vertical ribbon rollers near the plane of the operative type, pawl-like devices engaging with the said ratchets alternately, a yoke embracing the pawl like devices, springs interposed between the yoke and the pawl1ike devices, and a lever extending from the yoke to the front of the machine, substantially as set forth.

6. In a typewriter, the combination of a bank of keylevors, a type wheel situated above the key levers, a pair of ribbon spools, shafts on which the ribbon spools are mounted extending downward through the bank of keys, means for turning the spool shafts arranged below the bank of keys, and a lever extending to the front of the frame below the keys for shifting the means for operating the spool shafts to cause the rotation of one or the other thereof as desired, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. MCCOOL.

Witnesses Jos. C. Rouznn, E. T. FEssENDEN. 

